High Antioxidant Foods to Add to Your Diet Today

What are antioxidants? You may have heard this term thrown around a lot, but do you know what they are? Simply put, antioxidants are nutrients that help protect our cells from damage. They are found in many different foods. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants is important for maintaining overall health and preventing cardiovascular events. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of antioxidants and list some foods with the highest antioxidants.

Vitamin C, specifically, is a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce the effect of oxidative damage caused by pollution, stress, or poor diet.

What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are nutrients that help protect our cells from damage. They work by scavenging harmful toxins and free radicals, damaging cells and leading to inflammation.

Our cells experience oxidative stress, leading to several different health problems. Studies have shown an increased risk to health when inflammation is present in our bodies. Some of the health problems associated with oxidative stress include ALS, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants helps to neutralize these damaging toxins and protect our cells.

What Do They Do For Your Health?

There are many different health benefits associated with antioxidants. As we mentioned before, they help to protect our cells from damage. In addition to reducing the risk of chronic disease, antioxidants also have anti-inflammatory properties. This means that they can help reduce the symptoms of conditions that directly result from inflammation in the body. Antioxidants are also great for maintaining healthy skin and preventing premature aging.

Do Vitamin E And Vitamin C Help Reduce Inflammation?

Vitamins C and Vitamin E are two vitamins that are particularly effective at reducing inflammation and preventing chronic diseases like the risk of heart disease.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. It is not stored in the body and should be consumed daily. Foods high in levels of vitamin C include citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it is stored in the body and does not need to be consumed as often. Foods high in vitamin E include nuts, seeds, and olive oil.

Including these vitamins in addition to foods high in antioxidants in your diet is a great way to fight inflammation.

What Are Free Radicals?

Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells. They are generated by many things, including stress, pollution, and UV radiation. Free radicals cause oxidative stress, leading to different health problems. Some of the health problems associated with oxidative stress include cardiovascular disease, the risk of cancer, and the risk of coronary heart disease. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help to neutralize these damaging toxins and protect our cells from oxidative damage.

The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is a healthy lifestyle where people have olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fruits incorporated into their food. The beneficial effects are often recommended for people looking to improve their overall health. This diet is based on the traditional eating habits of people from countries around the Mediterranean Sea. It removes highly inflammatory foods to replace them with a diet rich in antioxidants. This diet can provide health benefits like improving cognitive function and preventing total cardiovascular disease.

Some of the main components of the Mediterranean diet include:

• Eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes like kidney beans
• Replacing butter with olive oil
• Eating fish and poultry at least once a week
• Eating moderate amounts of dairy
• Limiting red meat intake
• Drinking red wine in moderation

All of these foods are good sources of antioxidants. Another great way to eat that supports lower inflammation in the body is following a plant-based diet.

Antioxidant-Rich Fruits & Vegetables

There are many different antioxidants in foods, but some are higher than others.

Strawberries

Strawberries are a classic summer fruit that is delicious and nutritious. They are high in vitamins C and E, as well as ellagitannins.

Other Inflammation Fighting Foods

There are a variety of foods high in antioxidants other than fruits and vegetables, and those include:

Green Tea

Green tea is a type of tea that is high in antioxidants. It contains a type of flavonoid called catechins. Catechins are a type of flavonoid that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and can help with certain health conditions.

These are just some of the many foods that are high in antioxidants.

How to Add More Antioxidant-Rich Foods to Your Diet

Now that you know which foods are high in antioxidants, you may be wondering how you can add more of them to your diet.

One easy way to do this is to incorporate them into your meals and snacks. For example, you could add blueberries to your morning oatmeal or yogurt, enjoy a cranberry salad for lunch, snack on a handful of almonds, and eat dark chocolate for dessert.

Another way to simplify your antioxidant intake is to indulge in Pressed juices! With an array of antioxidant-rich juices to choose from, you can easily sip your antioxidants deliciously! Check out a few of our Wellness Community's favorite antioxidant-packed juice packs:

These are just a few ideas for incorporating antioxidant-rich foods (and juices) into your diet. By adding these foods to your daily routine, you can help protect your cells from damage and improve your overall health!

*The information in this blog post is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider before starting any new diet or nutrition program.*